Abshire calls faulty candidate petition 'a lesson learned'

Local resident Kenneth Abshire is out of the contest for a seat on the Whitehall Board of Education as a result of a problem with the petition he had filed with the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Abshire said he would not file an appeal.

According to the county office, Abshire was disqualified because he filed a declaration of candidacy for a nonpartisan primary rather than a nominating petition. Abshire also failed to sign one section of a two-part petition required by the elections board.

The oversight means Abshire's name will not appear on the November ballot, leaving five candidates vying for three four-year terms.

"It's a lesson learned," said Abshire, who partially blamed a complicated and convoluted system of filing paperwork.

A total of 16 candidates were disqualified from various races throughout Franklin County for either a clerical error or insufficient signatures.

Abshire called it frustrating.

Incumbent Joy Bivens will be the only candidate seeking to fill a lone two-year unexpired term left vacant this year by the abrupt resignation of former board member Ronda Howard.

Candidates running for the three four-year terms are incumbents Walter Armes (the board's current president), Blythe Wood (the board's current vice president) and Darryl Hammock (board member), along with Whitehall City Council member Leo Knoblauch and local resident Lorna Russell.

Abshire said he's still undecided on whether to seek another bid for a school board seat in two years.